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American Herbal Products Association and ASTM International Sign MOU on Cannabis Standards

Groups will work together on standards for the cannabis industry

Published: Thursday, June 8, 2017

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., June 8, 2017— Today, global standards organization ASTM International and the American Herbal Products Association announced a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on standards for the cannabis industry. The news comes in advance of the first meeting of ASTM International’s new cannabis committee, June 11 and 12.

The meeting is part of a larger “committee week” event with about 25 committees and 1,500 attendees at the Sheraton Centre Toronto in Ontario, Canada.

Under the agreement, ASTM International will coordinate standards development activities for the cannabis industry while AHPA will gain benefits such as recognition of its technical contributions and regulatory recommendations.

“Many of our stakeholders – manufacturers, dispensaries, labs, consultants, and others – have laid the groundwork for guidance on the safe use and legal commerce of cannabis,” said Jane Wilson, director of program development at AHPA. “We are thrilled to now be contributing to standards development through one of the world’s top standards organizations.”

“AHPA has provided and will continue to provide much-needed expertise in this fast-growing industry,” said Ralph Paroli, Ph.D., the committee’s new chairman and the director of R&D in measurement science and standards at the National Research Council of Canada. “AHPA’s support for this new committee will help expedite international standards development, identify gaps, prevent duplicative efforts, and more.”

In addition, through a license agreement, the new committee’s standards will note when AHPA contributed technical expertise or content from one of its “Recommendations for Regulators.”

Over the past year, after a growing number of requests from industry, the committee on cannabis (designated D37 by ASTM International) formally organized. The group has grown to about 200 members, including businesses, laboratories, associations, governments, and others. Anyone interested in participating can contact rmorgan@astm.org.

About ASTM International

Over 12,000 ASTM standards operate globally. Defined and set by us, they improve the lives of millions every day. Combined with our innovative business services, they enhance performance and help everyone have confidence in the things they buy and use – from the toy in a child’s hand to the aircraft overhead. Working across borders, disciplines, and industries we harness the expertise of over 30,000 members to create consensus and improve performance in manufacturing and materials, products and processes, systems and services. Understanding commercial needs and consumer priorities, we touch every part of everyday life: helping our world work better.

About AHPA

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is the U.S. national trade association and voice of the herbal products industry. AHPA is comprised of more than 350 U.S. and foreign companies doing business as growers, processors, manufacturers, and marketers of herbs and botanical and herbal products, including foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and non-prescription drugs. Founded in 1982, AHPA's mission is to promote the responsible commerce of herbal products.

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